Dhanji Punja forcibly removed his child victim from a city centre thoroughfare and proceeded to a remote lane to perpetrate sexual assault.
The 42-year-old asserted that he merely planned to kiss his victim; nevertheless, the judge found this assertion implausible and determined that he had intended to commit sexual assault.
Dhanji Punja targeted the solitary woman, whose identity cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, as she traversed Lord Street on July 12 of the previous year.
Dhanji Punja seized her and compelled her towards Dorans Lane, derogatorily referring to her as a “f*** b*****,” and released her only when confronted by three security personnel.
Liverpool Crown Court was informed that he had previously committed sexual assault on a woman on a train and had reclined on a shop floor to view a woman’s skirt.
Dhanji Punja, residing on Stanley Street in Liverpool city centre, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and kidnapping with purpose to perpetrate a sexual offence, resulting in a five-year prison sentence.
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